Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2009

Nominally a tripartite (Serb, Croat, Muslim) presidency with a chair that rotates every eight months; members in 2009 were Nebojsa Radmanovic (Serb; chairman until July 6), Zeljko Komsic (Croat; chairman from July 6), and Haris Silajdzic (Muslim). Final authority resides in the Office of the High Representative and EU Special Representative, Miroslav Lajcak (Slovakia) and, from March 26, Valentin Inzko (Austria)

Head of government:

Prime Minister Nikola Spiric

Threats of secession and political infighting between the three main ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina renewed speculation among observers in 2009 about a fresh round of violence prior to the September 2010 general election. The EU and the U.S. described the situation in both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina as “dysfunctional in nature.” The Muslim-Croat Federation was criticized for having lacked a consensus, and the Republika Srpska (RS; Bosnian Serb Republic) for having resisted the international community’s efforts to strengthen federal institutions. Paddy Ashdown, who served (2002–06) in the UN-appointed post of high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated that he had seen a dramatic reversal of progress in the entities.

RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik challenged the international community, calling for an end to the 14-year-old EU-run Office of the High Representative (OHR). On October 1 the RS parliament voted to withdraw from participation in all state institutions unless the OHR reversed a decision concerning control of the national electric company. High Representative Valentin Inzko, who replaced Miroslav Lajcak in March, wanted to keep the energy grid operational under a power-sharing agreement, but Bosnian Serbs wished to keep electric power distribution locally controlled.

Worsening economic conditions unleashed an unprecedented wave of labour and social discontent. During the first 10 months of 2009, more than 50,000 Bosnians lost their jobs, and remittances sent from workers abroad declined because of the downturn in the global economy.

In an attempt to jump-start the economy and curb growing discontent, the governments of both entities negotiated a €1.1 billion (about $1.6 billion) stand-by arrangement with the IMF. Two-thirds of the funds were earmarked for the Muslim-Croat Federation and one-third for RS. The arrangement called for a 10% cut to the Federation and RS budgets—some €207 million (about $292 million) and €73 million (about $103 million), respectively.

Muslim-Croat Federation Prime Minister Mustafa Mujezinovic faced public protests as the budget cuts called for the lowering of public-sector salaries and wages by 10% as well as reduced payments to social-entitlement programs. After the IMF approved the 36-month stand-by arrangement in July, nearly all unions and veterans’ associations staged daily two-hour strikes over a two-week period.

According to IMF data, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s GDP was expected to drop 3% in 2009. The World Bank described the economies of both entities as “gloomy,” owing to rising joblessness, shrinking exports, and a reduction in remittances, which in 2007 accounted for 23% of GDP (some $2.4 billion). Most of the unemployed (more than 22% of workers) lived in rural areas and received up to six months of assistance (about $133 per month). The average monthly wage was $450.

In October, Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted an official application for the NATO Membership Action Plan, which prepares candidates for full NATO membership. Although NATO foreign ministers did not offer Bosnia a formal plan in December to join the alliance, the country still expected to join NATO by 2015.

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